Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-09-03
STANDING BY THE LEAGUE.
The struggle in Parliament Conn
mencek.

The struggle in Parliament Com.
mencee.
LONDON. Aug. 25.-All of the Par
nelites returned to London to-day in read
mess for the debate this evening. Notice
! was given by Mr. Gladstone in the House
of Commons yesterday of resolution,
"That humble address be presented to
the Gu en- representing that the Viceroy of
Ireland has proclaimed the National
League - ii dangerous association; that no
information has been furnished to Parlia-
ment to justify proclamation by virtue of
which Her Majesty's subjects are to be rem
dered liable to be punished as criminals
without a judicial inquiry into the nature
of their acts, and that this House, in the
absence of such information, prays that the
said proclamation shall not continue in
force as to the association named and de-
scribed therein"
Mr. Gladstone was greeted with cheers in
the House OF Commons this evening when
he moved his resolution. He said that the
Irish Viceroy, in declaring that the League
had melted violence, must have acted on
information, but where was that informa-
ton? The Irish chiefs had right to know
the grounds on which the Government had
acted Ii the facts were Withheld the OPP
position must forthwith urge three PROPOSE
tons upon the House and the Government.
First-That it was almost an outrage on
| the dignity OF Parliam MT to suppose 1t was
| to discharge such an important statutory
duty without knowing the grounds.
| Second--It reduced to utter destruction
| aid to an absurdity the main contention
that the Government advanced during the
discussion of the Crimes act, that the safe
guard promised had proved farce.
Thirdly-What could The House think OF
| the information that they must know would
not bear the light.
| Mr.. Gladstone has always contended that
| the Government was iegislating against
combinations apart from crime, aud now
was the time for the Government to show
| that lie and his friends were wrong. But
| the Government shrank from this test and
declined the challenge. They had substi-'
tued arbitrary will for regular legal action.
| This principle was most dangerous and dis
| graceful in any country and especially i'll
Ireland. The law in Ireland was still on
| trial. The great misfortune was that those
who administer it, especially locally, were
in sympathy with the feelings of the peo-
pie. The proclamation of the league Is
nearly appropriate to a declaration of war
! on the Irish people. The people of Ireland
| generally sympathiZed with the league
because they believed it has been their
salvation. Nobody aid anything for
the tenants until the league was founded
The Governments action absolutely ex-
c'nied the House from anything except an
absurd and perfunctory operation in con-
nection with the great duty devOlving upon
it under the statute. Tie cognizance of this
proclamation was reduced to mere farce.
There would be no jury, judge or resident
magistrate, and 10 parliament to control
Ireland. There would be nothing but absO-
lutte, unmitigated arbitration in the act of
| the Irish executive, which was necessarily
partisan. He hoped the irish would cOntin-
ue tn bear the pressure. They would not
have to suffer long. 1t was certain that
they would not obey the law through fear.
but from their strong, vivid and buOyant
hope, which even at the last election was
| not damaged, and which now was brighter.
He believed the Governments policy had
not the sanction of the British nation. The
Governments foundation was slipping
from under them, and their action in refer
ence to the proclamation of the league
showed that their strength was failing.
MIR. Balfour said that Mr.. Gladstone
would have been wiser to have rested his
argument on the allegation that the House
was ignorant of the grounds for the procIa-
nation rather than on a defense of the
league. There was sufficient foundation to
justify tho proclamation in the columns of
the local newspapers without going into the
Governments confidential reports.
Replying to questions from Sir William
llaicourL MIR. Balfour refused to submit the
documents quoted and the speaker said the
Secretary was not bound to table confiden-
tial documents, but the case Was different
with official paper
Mr.. Harcourt again asked is the papers
were to be tabled.
Mr.. Balfour said no. The documents were
both public and confidential papers and his
own notes. If the people realized the true
nature and working of the league they
would support the Government. After
further remarks by Baifour, O'Connor and
| I. W. Russell The debate adjourned.
|
| he K,Ia